Revived LEGO: Original LEGO Themes That Came Back
/“Why won’t LEGO rerelease sets people obviously want?” This question gets asked over and over to a variety of different answers. However if you look around, there has been a very prevalent wave of revival-style sets and remakes, as well as a number of iconic licensed themes making a comeback after years of fans clamoring for their return. To look at some of the ways that LEGO has answered this question, we’ll take a look through these themes that have been revived over the years. In this installment, we’ll look specifically at the history of the original LEGO themes that have been resurrected in different ways after some sort of hiatus.
What Makes An Original Theme?
LEGO has produced numerous original themes, from evergreen ideas such as Town and Castle to story-driven narratives and mixed media projects such as Bionicle and Hidden Side. These themes are developed in-house by LEGO and their designers as unique ideas or renditions of what the set will be. Sometimes these themes last a year or two as a “big bang” theme; other times, they stick around for a significant run before disappearing. And then, on occasion, they come back.
Let’s dive into some of these resurrected ideas and see which concepts LEGO has been willing to revisit over the years.
Adventurers
-Original Release: 1998-2001
-Revived: 2003 (As Orient Expedition)
-Offshoot: 2011 (As Pharaoh's Quest and Dino)
Image via newfoundlug.ca
The LEGO Adventurers have explored many corners of the globe, originally being released with an Egyptian backdrop for the Desert subtheme in 1998. The original series would shift to Jungle expeditions and then progress into the mythical land of Dino Island, all centered around the brave explorer Johnny Thunder and his team. While there was only a short downtime between the original series and the revival, 2003 brought a freshly revamped Orient Expedition, sending Johnny and company to India, the Himalayas, and China.
Even just Orient Expedition had a significant change of identity throughout the theme. Images via 2003 LEGO Shop At Home Set insert.
This revival included updated graphics, more stories, and a board game built using the sets themselves. If you want an even deeper dive into the Adventurers story, you can check out our full deep dive here! While Johnny Thunder still has the occasional cameo to this day, the one further offshoot revival came in 2011 with Pharaoh’s Quest, picking up similar thematic ideas from the original Desert line. The connections go even further though, as the Dino theme from 2011 features Josh Thunder, a supposed descendent of our hero Johnny.
Aquazone
-Original Release: 1995-1996 (Aquanauts) and 1997 (Aquaraiders I)
-Revived: 2007 (Aquaraiders II)
-Offshoot: 2010-2011 (As Atlantis)
Image via faberfiles.blogspot.com
Aquazone is another theme that has numerous subthemes within it. Originally released as the Aquanauts faction in 1995 with bright yellow vehicles and bases, these brave heroes would face off against the Aquasharks. 1997 would introduce the Aquaraiders as a new faction featuring green and black underwater machines. 1998 would add the Stingrays and the Hydronauts as competing factions before the theme would initially retire.
Similarities between the Aquanauts and Aqua Raiders. Image via 1996 LEGO Shop at home Insert and pinterest.com
In 2007, while called Aqua Raiders (or Aquaraiders II), LEGO released a new underwater theme that heavily resembled the original yellow motifs of the Aquanauts while also featuring some similarities to a more modernized Divers (Town subtheme from 1997) style. After the short run of Aqua Raiders, there would be one more offshoot revival with Atlantis in 2010, clearly connected to the prior with a skeletal figure wearing the Aqua Raiders emblem on his helmet featured in 8078 - Portal of Atlantis.
BIONICLE
-Original Release: 2001-2010
-Offshoot: 2010-2014 (As Hero Factory)
-Revived: 2014-2016
-Revived Again: 2022-2023
Images via biosector01.com and spuf.org
Bionicle is one of LEGO’s most expansive original themes in regard to mythos and story. While some may see Hero Factory as a continuation of the theme, giving it a continued release until the second generation of Bionicle, there were no connections to the storyline, and is in fact, just a secondary theme utilizing the same parts system. Bionicle’s popularity helped it return with the second generation in 2014 after a four-year hiatus.
The three virtues from Gen 1 and the Mask of Creation from Gen 2. image via numb3r5s.wordpress.com
While there have been numerous references to Bionicle throughout other themes after the conclusion of Gen 2 in 2016, fans have been given something of another revival, this time with the 2023 gift with purchase release of 40581 - Bionicle Tahu and Takua, and what has now been called “system style” Toa in 11021 - 90 Years of Play.
Classic Castle
A selection of Castle sets from the instruction book of 10305 - Lion Knights Castle.
Classic Castle has been a mainstay LEGO theme for almost the entirety of the LEGO Minifigure. However there have been several different variations of the theme, and oftentimes some of our favorite factions end up returning later on down the line. We’ll take a look at some of those that have come back after a hiatus.
Lion Knights
-Original Release 1986-1992
-Revived: 2001 (Guarded Inn)
-Revived Again: 2016 (Classic Knights Minifigure)
-Revived Again: 2022 (Lion Knight’s Castle)
Image via eurobricks.com
Starting with the Lion Knights, a classic faction from 1986, we see one of the most recent returns to the past with 10305 - Lion Knight’s Castle. The Lion Knights were the main good guys from 1986, alongside the Crusaders fighting the Black Falcons. They would reign the LEGO Castle lands until around 1992 when they were entirely replaced by the Crusaders and a shift to the more magical and fantasy side with the Dragon Knights.
The return of the Guarded Inn. Image via 2002 Lego Catalogue
They would be briefly revived in 2001 with the Legends line, having the rerelease of set 6067 as 10000 - Guarded Inn, which was only available for around one year. If that wasn’t a substantial enough revival, 2016 brought the faction back as a single Gift With Purchase 5004419 - Classic Knights Minifigure, this time donning the light bluish gray armor, different from his predecessors.
The return and continued revival of many classic castle factions. Image via Lego.com
That would be all until the massive return with one of the largest castle sets ever, 10305 reviving a number of factions in 2022.
Forestmen
-Original Release: 1987-1990
-Revived: 1996 (As Dark Forest)
-Revived Again: 2021 (Bricklink Designer Program Castle in the Forest)
-Revived Again: 2022 (Forest Hideout GWP)
Image via eurobricks.com
The Forestmen have undergone an evolution since their original conception. The original theme ran for a solid three years with some of the most iconic castle sets of the time. The Robin Hood-esque antiheroes were given a number of substantial sets that stood out from the other castle sets with their focus on nature settings and, of course the forest.
The Dark Forest, the first revival of the Forestmen. Image via legosteveblog
After the conclusion of the theme in 1990, the Forestmen were revived with the very short-lived Dark Forest, evolving their style and look with more sophisticated minifigure printing. While these may not be as iconic as the original run, largely due to the difficulty of finding them outside of the US, they have stayed very popular within the castle community and were a fitting continuation of the original theme.
Forestmen Revived! Image via brickset.com and bricklink.com
2021 brought about an interesting revival, somewhat unofficially, when the BrickLink Designer Program released what is essentially an updated 6077 - Forestmen’s River Fortress with 910001 - Castle in the Forest. While this was not an official revival, the similarities are clearly in tribute to the original theme.
The original and the remake GWP. Both Images via brickset.com
However, things changed again in 2022 with two instances of Forestmen revival, in both 10305 - Lion Knight’s Castle and the modernized remake of 6054 - Forestmen’s Hideout with 40567 - Forest Hideout. While there were some similarities to the Forestmen with the peasants in the Kingdoms theme and rereleases of certain figures in the Vintage Minifigure packages, 2022 revived the faction with many new parts and pieces to modernize these merry men once again.
Black Falcons
-Original Release:1984-1992
-Revived: 2002 (Legend’s Black Falcon’s Castle)
-Revived Again: 2021 (IDEAS Blacksmith)
Image via brickimedia.org
The Black Falcons are one of the original “villains” of the castle theme. Spanning from 1984 all the way to their last appearance in 1992, there would be a number of castles and war machines, plus the inclusion of army-building figures in many different minifigure packs. Eventually, they were largely absorbed by the Black Knights faction, but that would not be the end. Their usual enemy also helped their revival, as they would be one of two rereleased castle sets in the Legends line, with the iconic 10039 - Black Falcon’s Castle being produced once again 16 years after its initial release. While the line did not stick around long, it would not be the end.
The rereleased Black Falcon’s Fortress. Image via 2002 LEGO Shop At Home Catalogue.
Black Falcon tributes would appear in numerous places, including Kingdoms and even Harry Potter. Still, it would take until 2021 to fully be revived, this time in a sophisticated redesign courtesy of an Ideas project. The release of 21325 - Medieval Blacksmith largely helped bring LEGO Castle back into the spotlight, with fantastically updated Black Falcon figures that thankfully would be given opposing forces with the BrickLink Designer Program 910001 - Castle in the Forest and the Forestmen and again the following year with Lion Knight’s Castle, pitting them once again against their royal foes. THe Creator 3-in-1 line also contributed to the Falcon’s revival with 31120 - Medieval Castle.
The return of the Black Falcons. Image via LEGO.com
Knights’ Kingdom
-Original Release: 2000-2003
-Offshoot: 2004-2006 (As Knights’ Kingdom II)
-Revived: 2006 (Knights’ Kingdom)
Images via legorunescapeshop.com and legoknightskingdom.fandom.com
The final revival of the castle theme is a much more modern rendition with a bit more variation between its origin and revival. In 2000, largely in contrast to the Legends releases that would happen in the next few years, the original rendition of Knights’ Kingdom became available. Much like the other themes at the time, there was a significant amount of junior-ization to the sets, focusing on large plates and pieces and many new large molded parts. While the theme only had one release year, the sets did stay on the shelves through at least 2003.
The original Knights’ Kingdom castle and the later released King’s Castle. images via brickset.com and brickset.com
While there was not a significant time between the two, Knights’ Kingdom was revived as Knights’ Kingdom II, featuring more colorful knights, many more fantasy elements, and even a buildable figure line. The villain Cedric the Bull and his Bull Knights were replaced by Lord Vladek and the scorpion-clad Rouge and Shadow Knights. However, Knights’ Kingdom would make its own return during 2006 as well, with a new take on the original castle, revived with updated designs and the more traditional colors and characters of the original line with 10176 - Royal King’s Castle.
Classic Space
Classic Space is another all-encompassing categorical theme. Just like with Castle, there are a number of continued Space themes, with certain factions and ideas having a revival. The popularity of certain concepts have revived many different pieces in many ways throughout the years.
Classic Space
-Original Release: 1979-1988
-Offshoot: 1987-1990 (As Futuron)
-Revived: 2014-2015 (EXO SUIT & Micro Galaxy Explorer)
-Offshoot: 2014-2019 (The LEGO Movies)
-Revived Again: 2022 (Galaxy Explorer II)
image via brickipedia.fandom.com
Classic Space is difficult to pin down direct revivals instead of just tributes. There are a number of ways that the iconic Classic Space look has come back from time to time, from the logo on city and space figures to rereleased figures in the Vintage Figure packs, to even the realm of Gear and other non-brick products. The original theme had quite the span, with the single-colored astronauts appearing in sets from 1979 all the way until 1988. Before the classic series was even done releasing, the theme was “revived” into Futuron from 1987-1990, featuring the same logo but now on two colored torsos.
Revival, offshoot, or just brothers. A comparison of the classic space look and the same color in the Futuron design. Images via bricklink.com and Bricklink.com
After the conclusion of the Futuron, it would take all the way until 2014 to bring back the iconic single-colored spacemen to a full set, using the Ideas channel to bring what has been called Neo-Classic Space to an official set with 21109 - Exo Suit and the release of the green Classic Space figures. The following year would see a release of a direct tribute set to the original 497 - Galaxy Explorer, this time in microscale with the release of the book Great LEGO Sets.
Classic space is back, now with more green! Image via bricklink.com
Classic Space also received a massive upswing in popular representation with the introduction of Benny from The LEGO Movie in 2014, and many new sets from both films that featured the Classic Space figure design, and a few sets that were specifically designed based on the original theme, such as 70816 - Benny’s Spaceship, Spaceship, Spaceship! and 70841 - Benny’s Space Squad.
The LEGO Movie 2 brought us the pink colored space suit. Image via bricklink.com
However, Classic Space would have its most triumphant return in 2022 with the fully redesigned tribute 10497 - Galaxy Explorer II, including several alternative build possibilities for other spaceship designs. While it is still to be seen if more revived sets will come, there is no doubt that LEGO will continue to heavily supply many more tributes and the occasional small offerings that promote the original theme.
The new and revived Galaxy Explorer. image via LEGO.com
Blacktron
-Original Release: 1987-1990
-Offshoot: 1991-1993 (As Blacktron II)
-Revived: 2023 (Blacktron I)
Image via bricknerd.com
Blacktron originated with the original release of the Futuron offshoot and had a small but potent release of five5 sets between 1987 and 1988. While these sets were often still available in 1990, it is almost possible to consider the one release of 1990 a revival of the theme, as 1875 - Meteor Monitor was largely just a promotional set included in a multipack. In 1991 however, the theme got an entire overhaul as Blacktron II, dropping the black, yellow, and accented red color scheme for a white, black and transparent neon green look.
The Blacktron bases, highlighting the color and style changes between the themes. Images via brickset.com
This continuation would last until 1993 when LEGO Space transitioned more to Ice Planet, Spyrius, and Unitron. Like many of the revived themes, Blacktron I would return to shelves, if only so far as another Gift With Purchase in 2023, with 40580 - Blacktron Cruiser, a modernized version of the original 6894 - Invader.
Space Police
-Original Release: 1989
-Offshoot 1992-1993 (As Space Police II)
-Revived: 1999 (As Space Police II)
-Offshoot:2009-2010 (As Space Police III)
Image via GrantMcDougall, pinterest.com, and brickfilms.fandom.com
Space Police has a very interesting history as the theme has three distinct iterations. The original release in 1989 was the only wave of the initial sets, featuring a blue, black and red color scheme and Minifigures that were the black and white versions of the Futuron factions. While these sets were available for longer than that, it took until 1992 for new Space Police II sets, and they drastically changed their style for this new two-year release, featuring black, gray, red, and transparent green, largely to switch from protecting the galaxy from Blacktron I to Blacktron II.
Space Police I and Space Police II. Both images via Brickset.com
1999 saw Space Police II specifically revived for one rerelease of the smallest of the theme’s sets, this time as 3015 - Space Police Car.
The return of Space Police brought a different look for Space Police III. Image via brickset.com
Space Police would then disappear in all forms until 2009, once again completely shifting the tone and style of the sets. This final rendition, Space Police III, brought standard police colors and the storytelling of the 2000s to the theme as galactic police officers hunted down alien outlaws.
Classic Town
Classic Town is difficult to fully describe, as Classic Town morphed into the likes of World City, Town Jr., and City at different times and is still going strong at this point. Many indications point to “Classic Town” ending around 2005 as stylistically it had become vastly different from the origins of the theme. However, it is worth looking at the Legends versions and other direct revivals of some of the icons of the original Classic era.
A 23 year age difference. Images via bricklink.com
The earliest set to get this treatment was 6390 - Main Street from 1980, which was rereleased as 10041 - Main Street under the Legends line in 2003 with minor updates to the parts selection used. Other selections had various time gaps between releases, but 6376 - Breezeway Cafe, 6597 - Century Skyway, 2148 - LEGO Truck, 6350 - Pizza To Go, and 6397 - Gas N’ Wash Express all received the same treatment either under the Legends branding or just as a revived set. Since then, City has continued to release sets of all styles, some of which could be considered revived or just ideas repeating themselves throughout the years.
Time for pizza! Image via 2002 Lego Shop at Home Catalogue.
Pirates
-Original Release: 1989-1997(Classic Pirates)
-Revived: 2001
-Revived Again: 2002
-Revived Again: 2009-2010 (Pirates II)
-Revived Again: 2015 (Pirates III)
-Revived Again: 2020
Image via bricklink.com
Like many of the classic themes, Pirates has had several different versions. Some may be considered revivals while others may be offshoots, but there is a clear connection throughout the history of LEGO Pirates. The original theme underwent a number of unique characters and locations, but all together lasted from 1989 until 1997 with what all can be considered Classic Pirates. The theme didn’t stay away for long, as in 2001 LEGO rereleased many of the Imperial Armada sets, just with slightly different box art from their previous versions.
It’s a spot the difference picture! 13 years of difference between the two sets. No, I’m not telling you if there are actually any differences in the picture, that’s up to you to find out. Images via Brickset.com
Like many other themes here, 2002 saw the Legends line rerelease perhaps the most iconic Classic Pirate set with 10040 - Black Seas Barracuda. The theme would lie dormant until 2009 when a new version of the Pirates theme would hit the shelf. After a short release, the theme would not be seen again until 2015, this time looking a little closer to the Classic Pirate style, but largely with its own design style. Classic Pirates would return in 2020 once again through the Ideas theme with 21322 - Pirates of Barracuda Bay, a new take on the original Black Seas Barracuda.
The ship looks a little different here, but it’s still based off the same boat. Image via brickset.com
Scala
-Original Release: 1979-1980 (Jewellery System)
-Revived: 1997-2001 (Dollhouse System)
Image via brickipedia.fandom.com
Scala is very unique in its revival, as it is largely in name only. The original Scala releases were all the way back in 1979 and 1980 as an odd Jewelry System, clearly targeted as a “girl’s toy,” largely in contrast to many of the original themes of the time. This theme was short-lived, consisting of nimesets, and then the theme and the name disappeared.
Yes, these are all the same theme. And yes, they are all LEGO. All images via brickset.com
In 1997 Scala returned to shelves as another odd style of themes, this time featuring dollhouse scale dolls and a massive new number of parts, many specifically for a unique building system with limited connection points to standard LEGO bricks. This Doll System version of the theme survived for several years, more popular in Europe than in the United States. But after the discontinuation in 2001, no further instances of Scala sets were produced. While not necessarily connected in their revival, the name seemed to be the choice for these “girl themes” similar to Belville, Clikits and Friends.
Train
In the same way that Classic Town has been revived, the LEGO Train theme has had a similar existence of continual products, but in this case since even before the minifigure was invented. Certain sets have been released multiple times or under different product numbers. In the vein of specific revivals, the blatant release was also under the Legends line with the iconic 4558 - Metroliner (1991) and 4547 - Club Car (1993) being rereleased in 2001, a number of years after their initial release.
Rerelease so special it got the black and white box. Image via Amazon.com
There have been some tribute sets throughout the years, but the next closest revival would be the Gift With Purchase rendition of 7810 - Push Along Steam Engine with 40370 - Steam Engine, bringing a new take to the 4.5v line of trains for the 40th anniversary. While the Train theme is somewhat neglected at this point compared to various heydays, many fans would be thrilled for more train sets, whether revivals of classics or entirely new concepts, but for now, the theme is still putting out new sets.
SOme modernization of the parts, but a fitting tribute. Image via brickset.com and brickset.com
Western
Much in the same way the original Imperial Armada Pirates sets were rereleased, Western’s revival came in much the same way. The original Western theme had just two years of sets focusing on the cowboys, Indians, and bandits. Many of these sets were available close to the point of the revival, as in 2002, Western reappeared on shelves, with three of the largest sets being remade, including the impressive 6762 - Fort Legoredo.
The Adventures of the Wild West Have Returned! Image via 2002 LEGO Shop at Home Catalogue.
These sets would feature new box art, but for the most part would be indistinguishable from the originals. Since then, we have only seen minor tributes and IP-based western sets, with many still hoping for more of the Wild West in brick form beyond released from BrickLink’s designer program.
Conclusion
Hopefully this exploration has shed some light on how LEGO has looked at many of their iconic themes and sets, with a number of ways they’ve made these desirable releases available to fans. There have been many tributes and Easter Eggs in LEGO sets that pay homage to past themes as well as these larger revivals that show designers care and do listen to what fans want. But believe me, if this hasn’t been enough information for you, we’ve only scratched the surface.
We’ll revive this article soon by exploring the licensed themes that have also returned from the dead!
Best of BrickNerd - Article originally published June 14, 2023.
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